Lunchtime Lecture Hosts Political, Media Experts
11/06/2011
By
Julia GavinThe 2012 presidential election may be a year away, but the candidates are already campaigning hard. To help voters, UMass Lowell will host several media and political experts who will discuss the candidates at the next Lunchtime Lecture on Nov. 7 from noon to 1:30 p.m.
The panelists, including local and regional journalists, political researchers and former gubernatorial candidate, businessman Charlie Baker, will participate in the panel “What to Look for in the 2012 Presidential Primaries.” The panel, moderated by Chancellor Marty Meehan, will take place at the UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center.
Panelists include:
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Charlie Baker, former gubernatorial candidate and businessman
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Joe Battenfeld, political writer and contributor to the Boston Herald, NECN and WRKO
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Jennifer Myers, senior writer for the Lowell Sun
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Glen Johnson, politics editor for Boston.com and political writer for the Boston Globe
- Prof. Frank Talty, Director of Academic Programs in the UMass Lowell College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and Director of the UMass Lowell Center for Public Opinion
Baker worked in state government in the '90s before moving to the healthcare field as an executive and eventually returning to serve on the Swampscott Board of Selectmen. He ran against Gov. Deval Patrick for the seat in 2010 after serving in his administration’s finance department. He is is currently executive-in-residence at General Catalyst Partners, a Cambridge-based venture capital firm.
"Our community partners in this series were enthusiastic about this program because it's so newsworthy," says Paul Marion, executive director of community and cultural affairs and an organizer of the event. "People are beginning to focus more closely on the coming primaries and caucuses for the presidential election?the contests in Iowa and New Hampshire are within sight."